The English FAIL thread

Hello there,

I thought of this idea long time ago and its time to post it ,
since most of this forum member's mother language isn't English [including me] it is a great idea to ask for something and then get a reply

Who Said Thanks:

I thought of this idea long time ago and its time to post it ,
since most of this forum member's mother language isn't English [including me] it is a great idea to ask for something and then get a reply

good idea

I ain't an english native speaker by the way I think the answers are the following.

1.My family has
2.Everyone has (1 and 2 are singular words like "people" you should write "people is" instead of the "people are")
3.I bought a x-ray device (You only write "an" instead of "a" when is followed by a vocal; for example -just an idea- an apricot-an egg- )

nope, 'people are' is correct, it may simply be an exception to the rule

3.I bought a x-ray device

no, i bought an x-ray device is correct (if in doubt, try saying both versions out loud, you'll probably choose the one that 'sounds' better)

a xbox doesn't good right?

Is a xbox good,isn't it?

an xbox isn't good, right?

Is an xbox good? (this is a bit strange construction as it uses an xbox, meaning any xbox in general, a better way to ask would be when referring to a specific one, like your xbox, then you would use: Is the xbox good? or Is my/your xbox good?)
or
An xbox isn't good, is it?
or
An xbox is good, isn't it?

(notice the exchange of is/isn't, afaik its always the opposite)

personally, i know a few basic rules, but everything else (unless using a dictionary) goes by feeling, or sound when in doubt

nope, 'people are' is correct, it may simply be an exception to the rule

, I don't know it

an xbox isn't good, right?

Is an xbox good? (this is a bit strange construction as it uses an xbox, meaning any xbox in general, a better way to ask would be when referring to a specific one, like your xbox, then you would use: Is the xbox good? or Is my/your xbox good?)
or
An xbox isn't good, is it?
or
An xbox is good, isn't it?

Who Said Thanks:

Suppose for eg my friend has 2 younger brothers and 2 older sisters! So that makes my friend the 3rd child right?! What if i don't know how many brothers or sisters my friend has (or none), then how would i find out which #child is he? I can only ask him one question! so what would be the simplest way to ask?

Suppose for eg my friend has 2 younger brothers and 2 older sisters! So that makes my friend the 3rd child right?! What if i don't know how many brothers or sisters my friend has (or none), then how would i find out which #child is he? I can only ask him one question! so what would be the simplest way to ask?

How many siblings do you have and where are you ?

I personally would have asked,
"So, you are the youngest, eh ? " The other person would have given me the answer by this time

Who Said Thanks:

Assume has a more broader meaning. It's something that has be taken for granted.

Presume is more kinda daring thing. The subject in the context would be taken in advance into consideration..

Like.. A person is presumed to be guilty until proved innocent.

judging from the following dictionary explanations assume & presume can have the same meaning, but also other not very clear possibilities, which means you'll have to take the context into consideration in order to decipher the real meaning

presume:
1 : to undertake without leave or clear justification
2 : to expect or assume especially with confidence
3 : to suppose to be true without proof <presumed innocent until proved guilty>
4 : to take for granted

Originally Posted by kelly

But everything is changing now due to globalisation .. nobody even bothers unless its an English examination that you are writing.

what makes you think it would be any different without globalization?

Originally Posted by kelly

How many siblings do you have and where are you ?

there is a problem with the siblings definition as some dictionaries consider only one common parent is enough and that would mean half-brothers/sisters are included, thus creating confusion, but confusion is apparently a common language-related ingredient, and humans are no robots, so be prepared to ask further questions when in doubt

or simply say:
how many older brothers & sisters do you have?
or
any older brothers and sisters?
or
do you have any older brothers & sisters?

Originally Posted by kelly

"So, you are the youngest, eh ? " The other person would have given me the answer by this time

what if the answer is:
no
or
yes
or
why do you ask?
or
i don't discuss personal information over the internet

I didn't think it at all in the first place
Globalization may not be the only reason, but sure is one of the reason. Due to the free media available , the influence of one culture over the other has become easier more than ever.
For instance, English is divided into mainly two category.. American and Britain.
Due to media(could be movies , internet) has perhaps made American english more common to the masses.

what if the answer is:
no
or
yes
or
why do you ask?
or
i don't discuss personal information over the internet

I was referring to a real life scenario..

"So, you are the youngest, eh? " .." No dude there are 3 more older/younger ones"

I believe its always good to give some practical examples of how to use terms or phrases.

I driver is on a highway travelling 130 km/hm, the speed limit is marked as 100km/h. A policeman waiting behind some bushes rushes towards the speeding driver waves to him to pull over and stop beside the road. Driver pretends to not see the police and drives another 10km untill the police rams him on the side of the car and forces the driver to stop.

Driver:
"Is there anything the problem officer?"

Police:
The police gets out a gun and points it at the driver. "Get out of the car now! Show me your hands and put your and hands slowly on top of the car!"

Driver:
"I presume you want me to assume the position then?"

In this case the term presume means to make an assumption
In this case the term assume means to to take on or put on oneself or itself, and aspect, attribute or debt but in this case it would be attribute, spread-eagle so making it easy for anyone to grope you or search you.